“Motivation is simple. You eliminate those who are not motivated.”
– Lou Holtz
It’s called…
Self-motivation
Real, honest, practical, necessary
Personal accountability
Tough love
What does it mean to you?
Did a presentation yesterday afternoon…65 staff and managers…they had a long morning covering their business agenda, just finished lunch, small room, too warm, a captive audience for the most part…
Topic was emotional intelligence and personal accountability…it was looking to be a tough afternoon…and it was…but we pressed on. Had good interaction, a few laughs, a few light bulbs during the exercises…it was good.
There was one that did not say much…the quiet one…but I could tell he was listening…he did the exercises, wrote while others around him laughed off theirs…he wrote carefully…kept it to himself.
Near the end, volunteers around the room shared their takeaways for self-improvement, for change…they were good…lose weight, stop smoking, be kind, help others…all good things, challenging, admirable.
I risked it…asked him to share…he looked down as he spoke…the room went quiet as he courageously admitted many faults….seeing himself being distant, angry, frustrated, impatient, the yelling and screaming, so hard to be home, so much sadness…but owning his behavior, his part in their pain…his plan to be a better man…to let go his anger, be more attentative, be more patient, respectful, bring his family to a better place…all with a deep sincerity you could feel in your heart…
Silence…I looked up…tears all around the room…they hadn’t known…then the applause…for the one.
“Change your thoughts and you change your world.”
– Norman Vincent Peale
